Traveling scaffold



March 29, 1960 l. L. LACY ET AI. 7

TRAVELING SCAFFOLD 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed may 51, 1957 INVENTORS Tuomns Al'euvvrsou' f/10A L.. LMEY March 29, 1960 l. L. LACY ET AL 2,930,441

TRAVELING SCAFFOLD I Filed May 31, 1957 8 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS Tncwus AfTemaYsou By 9 10A L. LACEY ATTORNEYS March 29, 1960 L. LACY ET AL 2,930,441

TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filed May 31, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 z" "'1 IT' CC i up 1 I :4? t l N v I :0 m N n ra-I I I 8 r if. ll I: i q A '5 o o 1% c I i (I? i l I I l l [C329 I l 0 I 0 n 7 l' N a, 4 1

uvmvroxs' Tum-1A5 ATTeuMYsoN l] BY 6/ IDA L. Lncev ATTOQHEYS March 29, 1960 l. LACY ET AL 2,930,441

TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filed may 51, 1957 a Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 'Tnonas Afl'umvsou BY 6! Ion. L. LACEY l. L. LACY ET AL March 29, 1960 TRAVELING SCAFFOLD 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1957 INVENTORS faunas Afi'emwsou 610A L. LAceY BY 5 I, ezlman )6 ATToQuEYs March 29, 1960 i. L. LACY ET AL 2,930,441

TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filed May 31, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS THoMAs A- euuYseu By 61191:. L- LACEY yzwzmm, WWWQW ATTOQHEYS March 29, 1960 1. L. LACY ET AL 2,930,441

TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filed May 31, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 if n\\\\\\\\\\\ IN V EN TORS THOMAS ATT wswsou BY Q EDA at. LMLEY AT'TO Q HEY-5 March 29, 1960 I. L. LACY ET AL TRAVELING SCAFFOLD 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 31. 1957 INVENTORS Tuomns AfTiv-nNSON 6/ 113A L. LA '.F.-( BY ATTOEH EYS l hired.

"Ihqpresexit invention relatesto a traveling scaffold for use'in a commercial building.

.An object ofthepresentinvention is to providea scaf- Ifold whichlends itself for support from the overhead structure providedina commercial building and which includes the mechanism for propelling it backward and forward along said structure.

Another object of the present invention is'to provide a scaffold whichis adapted'to be supported at varying distances fron-rthe overhead structure provided in a commercial building.

A further object of the present invention, is to provide a scatfoldtwhich may be readily assembled and'supportinglysuspended'from'the overhead structure provided in a commercial buildingxand which maybe 'detachedwith "facility and case..,frorn such structure and'disassembled.

These and otherobjects and advantages of the present invention will be'fully'apparent from the following description when taken in connection with'the'annexed drawingspin which:

Figure '1' is "a perspective view of the traveling scaffold "of, the present invention shown attached to a pair of I-'bearns for longitudinal'travel therealong;

Figure '2' is" an end view in elevation of-the assembly shown in Figure l, the dotted line showing illustrating the extensile and contractile movement of the platform and its'attached posts showing its adjustmentto high "beamsof varying spacing;

"Figure 3 is 'a view partially in section taken onthe line "3- 3 of Figure 2, *the dotted line shown illustrat- 'ing' the traveling movement of the scaffold in the direc- 'tion'of'the'arrow;

Figure '4is a top plan view as section line 4 4-015 Figure. 3;

Figure 5 is a 'perspective view of'tnetraveling scaffold 'according to thepresejnt invention, showing it in a position liftingitself toward an overhead support;

Figure dis a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken'on line-66 of Figurei;

Figure 7 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 77 of Figure'S;

Figure 8 is a perspective-view of a-means of attach- 'ment' to a sub-beam;

,Figure i9 isa sectional view, on an enlarged scale,

itaken on line9j-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken on an enlarged scale, taken'on the line lib-+19 of Figure '8;

Figure l1 is an end elevational' view showing the traveling scaffold supported on the sub-beams of Figure 8"and moving between laterally spaced overhead suptaken on line 12'12 of Figure ll; and

Figure 13 is an 'elevational view, similar to Figure 7,

showing the driving connection of the cables to the traveling platform in-'the condition of use showninrliigu're 11 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which a (e Pat nted Mar; 29, T1960 like numerals indicate like jP flZ s throughoutr'the several views, the traveling 'scatfold according'to theipresent'in- 'vention comprises aplatform 20 having on one side,:at

upper 'end of'the outer'member '26 "and iis'lidably con- "nected thereto. The nut "andfbolttassembly '30 is provided for "eachpost 22Iifor releasablyilocking"themem. hers '25fand' 28 together: in any adjusted position offcX- tensile andpretractile movement;

'Onithe upper end of "eachiofthe membersff28 isya "suspension'means including a box frame 32 havingja bushing '34 "formed integrally therewith for thesupport of a horizontally'disposed drive shaft 36. Thedrive sprocket 38 is keyed to one-end of theshaft 36 and the other end of the *shaft'3'6 has'splined to it a drive roller 40. An'auxiliaryb'oxframe -42 is supported in thebox'frame 32 and formsa means or' *supportfora horizontally disposed support arm 44 slidably mounted within theframe 42. One end of thearm 44 carries a handle 46 and theother-en'd carries an-upright post 48 carrying a rotatable roller 5!) on the upper-end thereof. "Ihe driveroller-Adand the roller Sii'are horizontally disposed :and' are arranged in end-to'enfd' =spaced rela- "tion. Sliding movement of' the -support- 'arm 1'4 -r 'alative to the frame 42*shifts the roller"50 toward' and away from the roller'46. The ro'llers '40 =and50 of each post engage oppositesides err-flanges of zthe adjacent 'I'-beam 92, as shown in Figure d .An identical post 22 is positioned "betweenthe end 1posts'22 and carries allof the same 'components'heretofore described with the exception of-the drive: sprocket 38. The posts '22, 2 2'- are arranged in spaced relation along one side of the platform 20 and other posts '52 are arranged along'the other side ofthe'platform 20 opposite'to the posts-'22'with" a: third post 52"opposite the 'post 22'. The'posts 52, 52' areidentical instructure 'with'the posts 22,22 and carry the same'zcomponents.

The means pivotally connecting eachxipost :22, 22?,52

-and 52 to the-upper endsof ithe wallsx24, '54 includes a pair of'spaced Lashaped brackets '21, "each having one leg 23 horizontallyidisposed:andifixedly secured 'to the upper end of 'the-adja'cent-wwall 24 or- 54 and having-the other leg'25' vertically disposed. "The .legsfl25rof'ieach 'pair of brackets 21* are disposed one at each end "of a bearing block 27'Ica'rriedonthe-lowerend of theposts 22, 22 ,52or 52 .A'pivotipin 29 exterids"through the legs 25 iofleach bracket 21 and through the adjacent Ibearing'block 27;"=pivota1ly connecting the. adjacent post to the platform. Zn. .In addition to being pivotally connectedatatheir lower ends to :theotherside wall 54, the

posts 52, 52' are'also movable as a unit toward and, away from the posts 22*and 22; Means'for moving the posts 52, 52' and'the associated side wall -54 consists in a hollow-beam 56:below.the platform 20} and having-there: in a slidably mounted -auxiliary-bearn58 as :shown 'in Figures 2 and 3. The beam 58 supports theside wall 54 for sliding movement toward and away from the side wall 24. A rack 60 driven by a gear 62 which is on the end of ashaft:6 4 journaled beneath'the platform 20. A-drive belt 66 (Figured) connects the shaft-64 to a driven pulley 68 mounted on ajack shaft 70 (Figure 7) 'journaled in, pillow boxes 72 (FigureB) mounted upon the platform 20. Anidler pulley 74,-controllable by the,.hand1lever 76 is movable into 'and out of engagement with the belt'66-to cause rotationof thezshaft 6,4- andresults in movementxofthe. side wall 54 toward.

and away from the side wall 24.

Motor means is carried .by the platform 20 and consists in an electric motor 78 drivably connecting by a belt 80 the cross shaft 82 to the motor 78 by means of bevel gear assemblies 84 across shaft 70. The cross shaft 82 has a telescoping section 82' slidable therewithin chain drives 86 and 88 connect a cross shaft 82, 82 to the drive sprockets 38 at the upper ends of the posts 22 and 52.

Rotatable roller means is positioned beneath the platform 20 inwardly of each side of the latter and is drivably connectable to the aforesaid motor means and engageable by cables 90 (Figure for lifting the platform 20 to an elevated position beneath a roof structure constituting a support means such as the I-beams in Figure 5 designated by the reference numeral 92. A loop is formed on one end of the cables 90, designated by the numeral 94, in Figure 5, through which passes a midportion of another of the cables 90 which passes through a port provided in theside walls 24 and 54 and under the rollers 86 and 98, Figures 1 and 5. A double-ended hook 100 mounted on an intermediate portion of the roller 96 provides a means for attachment of one end of the cables 90 as shown in Figure 13. Clutch means is provided between the roller 96 and a drive pulley 102 mounted upon the jack shaft 70 for controlling the takeup of the one cable 90 upon the roller 96. Specifically this clutch means includes an idler pulley 104 controllable by a hand lever 106 and engageable with a belt 108 drivably connected as seen in Figures 1 and 13 to the roller 96.

Referring to Figures 8 to 12, inclusive, means is provided by the present invention for moving the scaffold from one set of I-beams 92 to other I-beams 92. This means includes the provision of sub-beam assemblies designated generally by the reference numeral 110 and including a short length of I-bearn 112 the lower flange of which support the rollers 40 and 50 without movement thereon. Hangers 114 support the I-beams 112 and are themselves provided with rollers 116 by means of which they move on an overhead support or other I- beam 92' (Figure 11) between the adjacent I-beams 92 as a result of winding of the cable 90 upon the roller 96. Each of the hangers 114 has to be removed when one of the I-beams 92 is encountered and replaced on the other side of the I-beam 92 as the platform 20 is moved along the longitudinal length of the I-beam 92' to its new position as desired.

In use, the traveling scaffold according to the present invention may be supported on any two adjacent I-beams in a building structure, such as a warehouse or the like, and may be self-propelled the lengths and longitudinally of such I-beams and may be transported through the air from one pair of I-beams laterally to another pair of I- beams. It is only necessary to adjust the width of the platform 20 by the controls which effect the movement of the rack 60 to adjust the posts 22 and 52 to the proper width for the spacing of the particular I-beams 92. Movement laterally of such I-bearns 92 is effective by attaching the sub-beam assemblies 110 to the posts 22 and 52 and thereafter attaching the assemblies 110 to the hangers 114 and to thereafter move by means of the cables 90 the scaffold laterally of the I-beams 92 to the desired new position. Each of the posts 22 and 52 may be pivotally swung at its lower end so as to enable it to be moved from one I-beam to another I-beam. This is acomplished by first attaching the cables 90 to an adjacent I-beam 25 that the platform is supported therefrom. Next, the roller 50 on the upper end of the posts 22, 22', 52 or 52 is shifted away from the adjacent drive roller 40. The posts may then be swung about the associated pivot pin 27 to free the roller 40 from engagement with the flange of the I-beam. When all the posts are disconnected from the I-beams, the platform 20 may be shifted laterally on the cables 90 to the new position for attachment to the other I-beams. Wheels 116 are provided at each corner of the platform 20 for movement of the scaffold upon a supporting surface when not suspended by either of the suspension means including the hangers 114, the cables 90, or the drive rollers 40 on the upper ends of the group of posts carried by the upper ends of each of the side walls 24 and 54.

Special means is provided for quick attachment of the cables to a distant I-beam for pulling of the cables 90 and the winding thereof on the roller 96. This means is shown in Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, and includes pinchertype hangers 118 dependingly carrying a box frame 120 which supports a pair of spaced parallel rollers 122 and 144 and vertical rollers 126. The hangers 118 permit the quick attachment of the box frame 120 to any particular I-beam 92 so that the traveling scaffold according to the present invention may be rapidly moved to a new position suspended from any adjacent beams 92 in a building having spaced side walls. The width of the platform 20 may be rapidly adjusted to fit beams 92 of different spacings by extending the rack 60 at each end of the platform 20 to shift the auxiliary beams 58 inwardly or outwardly of the hollow beams 56, the beam 5'6 constituting a cross member at each end of the platform 20 extending between the adjacent ends of the rigid side walls 24 and 54 and having one end fixed to the side wall 24, the auxiliary beam 58 constituting means connecting the beam 56 at each end of the platform 20 to the adjacent ends of the other side wall 54 for movement of the side wall 54 toward and away from the side wall 24.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in the interior of a building having opposed spaced walls, and a plurality of overhead beams arranged in transverse spaced relation positioned between and supported on said walls, a traveling scaffold comprising a platform having opposed edges adapted to be positioned between and below adjacent beams, a first group of posts arranged in spaced relation along one of said platform edges and having the lower ends pivotally connected to said platform, a second group of posts arranged in spaced relation along the other of said platform edges and having the lower ends pivotally connected to said platform, said second group of posts being connected to said platform for movement as a unit toward and away from said first group of posts, suspension means on the upper ends of the posts of said first group and adapted to engage one of said beams for traveling back and forth movement therealong, suspension means on the upper ends of the posts of said second group and adapted to engage another of said beams for traveling movement back and forth therealong, each of said suspension means including a pair of horizontally disposed rotatable rollers arranged in end-to-end spaced relation, one of said rollers being movable toward and away from the other of said rollers, said pair of rollers being adapted to rollably engage opposite sides of the adjacent beam, and means carried by said platform and operatively connected to the suspension means of each of said first and second groups for effecting the traveling movement of said platform along said adjacent beams.

2. For use in the interior of a building having opposed spaced walls, and a plurality of overhead beams arranged in transverse spaced relation positioned between and supported on said walls, a traveling scaffold comprising a platform having opposed edges adapted to be positioned between and below adjacent beams, a first group of posts arranged in spaced relation along one of said platform edges and having the lower ends pivotally connected to said platform, a second group of posts arranged in spaced relation along the other of said platform edges and having the lower ends pivotally connected to said platform, said second group of posts being connected to said platform for movement as a unit toward and away from said first group of posts, suspension means embodying a roller on the upper ends of the posts of said first group and adapted to engage one of said beams for traveling back and forth movement therealong, suspension means embodying a roller on the upper ends of the posts of said second group and adapted to engage another of said beams for traveling back and forth movement therealong, each of said suspension means including a pair of horizontally disposed rotatable rollers arranged in end-to-end spaced relation, one of said rollers being movable toward and away from the other of said rollers, said pair of rollers being adapted to rollably engage opposite sides of the adjacent beam, and means carried by said platform and operatively connected to the suspension means of each of said first and second groups for effecting the traveling movement of said platform along said adjacent beams.

3. For use in the interior of a building having opposed spaced walls, and a plurality of overhead beams arranged in transverse spaced relation positioned between and supported on said walls, a traveling scaffold comprising a platform having opposed edges adapted to be positioned between and below adjacent beams, a first group of posts arranged in spaced relation along one of said platform edges and having the lower ends pivotally connected to said platform, a second group of posts arranged in spaced relation along the other of said platform edges and having the lower ends pivotally connected to said platform, said second group of posts being connected to said platform'for movement as a unit toward and away from said first group of posts, each of the posts of said first and second groups having a fixed lower portion and an upper portion extensible and retractable with respect to the lower portion, and releasable lock means for holding the upper portion in any of the selected positions of its movement relative to said lower portion, suspension means on the upper ends of the posts of said first group and adapted to engage one of said beams for traveling back and forth movement therealong, suspension on the upper ends of the posts of said second group and adapted to engage another of said beams for traveling back and forth movement therealong, each of said suspension means including a pair of horizontally disposed rotatable rollers arranged in end-to-end spaced relation, one of said rollers being movable toward and away from the other of said rollers, said pair of rollers being adapted to rollably engage opposite sides of the adjacent beam, and means carried by said platform and operatively connected to the suspension means of each of said first and second groups for effecting the traveling movement of said platform along said adjacent beams.

4. For use in the interior of a building having op posed spaced walls, and a plurality of overhead beams arranged in transverse spaced relation positioned between and supported on said walls, a traveling scaffold comprising a platform having opposed edges and adapted to be positioned between and below adjacent beams, a

rigid side wall extending along one of said platform side edges and fixed thereto, another rigid side wall extending along the other of said platform side edges, a first group of posts arranged in spaced relation along said firstnamed rigid side wall and each having the lower end pivotally connected to the upper end of said side wall, a second group of posts arranged in spaced relation along said 'another rigid side wall and each having the lower end movement therealong, suspension means on the upper ends of the posts of said second group and adapted to engage another of said beams for traveling movement back-and-forth therealong, each of said suspension means including a pair of horizontally disposed rotatable rollers arranged in end-to-end spaced relation, one of said rollers being movable toward and away from the other of said rollers, said pair of rollers being adapted to rollably engage opposite sides of the adjacent beam, and means carried by said platform and operatively connected to the suspension means of each of said first and second groups of posts for effecting the traveling movement of said platform along the adjacent beams.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

